The market was surprisingly clean and tidy. There didn’t seem to be anything out of place. In the alley way between the backs of the merchants’ shops I scanned for crates that might contain useful items. I had limited funds, and limited ways of getting funds, needed to take some risks here. I didn’t expect to find much, and I strolled nonchalantly through the alley and back onto the main walkways. The guards paid me no mind, thank the stars. I didn’t think I stood out too much from the population. Maybe a few extra scars than others, but otherwise I felt pretty average. My vest was probably the only thing that was of any exuberant value. Not many bullet proofs just lying around. Though I couldn’t help but think that every one around me just knew. Knew who I was. Knew where I came from. As I walked down the lane browsing the shops, a guy jumped a barrel and ran past a bunch of people. He tried to bump into on purpose, pickpocket no doubt. He definitely needed a bath. As I continued, I heard some one call out, “Godamnit!”. Seems like our little pickpocket got his pay day. I smirked a little, “sucks,” I muttered under my breath. That’s when I saw it. Its blackened metal and wooden stock. It looked remarkably clean, this merchant goes out of her way to make her merchandise look good. I could almost smell the gun smoke from a fresh shot. That’s what I had been looking for, and thats the rifle I wanted. “Do you want to buy it, or should I give the two of you some time in the back to be alone. Looks to be someone like you might need it.” The merchant’s stare penetrated through me, and I began to sweat a little. I was not trained to be able to talk to civilians. “How much?” “How much for you to be with your true love? Ah, let’s see here. Well, I polished the sucker for a couple hours, I did, and...” This was going to cost me, “ and I also cleaned her inside out. So for you? Fourteen water tokens.” That might have been the straightest face I have ever seen. What to do? There’s a risk if I try to force her down, there are guards every where. But I can’t give her everything to my name. “How about we think a little lower?” My hand rested just in front of the pistol on my belt. “Maybe like--” “Deary, I deal with a lot worse than the likes of you every day! I’m not afraid. And if you’re going to try to intimidate me, you got another thing coming. There’s guards nearby at any given moment. and it will only take one shout to have to out of here. So how about you calm down, and try again?” I flinched. Shit. Not my finest moment. I glanced around watching other patrons, I didn’t know how to recover from this. I should have known better than to try that in such a large city. Some guards strode by, and I pulled into the shop’s shadows a little more. It was surprisingly much quieter under the booth. “Seems to me you want this to go quietly,” She leaned in, lowering her voice, “But things can get awfully loud, awfully quickly. Maybe it’s sixteen tokens now?” She watched me closely. I stood under some of her wares thinking of my options. They smelled like they just rolled off the caravan. Dusty and dirty. These things were not as cared for. Tattered shirts, leather strips, a few pairs of pants. Even a leather jacket in the back and next to that a pair of boots that actually looked to be in good condition. I was impressed, she knew what she was doing, that was for sure. “Alright, let’s step back. What if I lent out some of my services? I am a good hunter and trapper, and I can take care of myself no problem, so getting back isn’t an issue. Or help around here?” “No longer can trust you inside the shop, dear, but you’re telling me you’d go out there alone and find me some dinner? I’m thinking three days worth of meals might suffice. And ten water tokens.” She folded her arms, and puffed out her chest. This was her final offer. I noticed her age just then. She wasn’t young, she’s been doing this for too long to even attempt to care about what I might be capable of. Even if I did try some thing stupid, the guards would be on me in seconds, and I’ve been here too long, every one would have seen my face. Her face wrinkled as she pursed her lips, patience were neither of our virtues it seemed. “Three days of meals and eight tokens,” I turned and watched more guards walk by. She didn’t even bat an eyelash. I cut my losses and ducked back into the walk way heading towards more shops on the other side of town. A mismatched group of people stood around another. “I don’t know if this is worth our time,” A strong, obviously trail worn, traveller was saying. “Come on!” the one in the middle pleaded, “It’s a whole five tokens, for each of you!” I stopped dead in my tracks. “I promise, when you find him, five water tokens!” Score. “I’ll help,” I said from behind the party. The one looking for help squealed for joy, “the more the merrier! And the easier it will be! Come on, come on!” The burly traveller regarded me apprehensively. Maybe I was in over my head, but I needed the tokens, and there was no going back now.
I didn’t think I stood out too much from the population. Maybe a few extra scars than others, but otherwise I felt pretty average. My vest was probably the only thing that was of any exuberant value. Not many bullet proofs just lying around. Though I couldn’t help but think that every one around me just knew. Knew who I was. Knew where I came from.
As I walked down the lane browsing the shops, a guy jumped a barrel and ran past a bunch of people. He tried to bump into on purpose, pickpocket no doubt. He definitely needed a bath. As I continued, I heard some one call out, “Godamnit!”. Seems like our little pickpocket got his pay day. I smirked a little, “sucks,” I muttered under my breath.
That’s when I saw it. Its blackened metal and wooden stock. It looked remarkably clean, this merchant goes out of her way to make her merchandise look good. I could almost smell the gun smoke from a fresh shot. That’s what I had been looking for, and thats the rifle I wanted.
“Do you want to buy it, or should I give the two of you some time in the back to be alone. Looks to be someone like you might need it.” The merchant’s stare penetrated through me, and I began to sweat a little. I was not trained to be able to talk to civilians.
“How much?”
“How much for you to be with your true love? Ah, let’s see here. Well, I polished the sucker for a couple hours, I did, and...” This was going to cost me, “ and I also cleaned her inside out. So for you? Fourteen water tokens.” That might have been the straightest face I have ever seen.
What to do? There’s a risk if I try to force her down, there are guards every where. But I can’t give her everything to my name. “How about we think a little lower?” My hand rested just in front of the pistol on my belt. “Maybe like--”
“Deary, I deal with a lot worse than the likes of you every day! I’m not afraid. And if you’re going to try to intimidate me, you got another thing coming. There’s guards nearby at any given moment. and it will only take one shout to have to out of here. So how about you calm down, and try again?”
I flinched. Shit. Not my finest moment. I glanced around watching other patrons, I didn’t know how to recover from this. I should have known better than to try that in such a large city. Some guards strode by, and I pulled into the shop’s shadows a little more. It was surprisingly much quieter under the booth.
“Seems to me you want this to go quietly,” She leaned in, lowering her voice, “But things can get awfully loud, awfully quickly. Maybe it’s sixteen tokens now?” She watched me closely. I stood under some of her wares thinking of my options. They smelled like they just rolled off the caravan. Dusty and dirty. These things were not as cared for. Tattered shirts, leather strips, a few pairs of pants. Even a leather jacket in the back and next to that a pair of boots that actually looked to be in good condition. I was impressed, she knew what she was doing, that was for sure.
“Alright, let’s step back. What if I lent out some of my services? I am a good hunter and trapper, and I can take care of myself no problem, so getting back isn’t an issue. Or help around here?”
“No longer can trust you inside the shop, dear, but you’re telling me you’d go out there alone and find me some dinner? I’m thinking three days worth of meals might suffice. And ten water tokens.” She folded her arms, and puffed out her chest. This was her final offer. I noticed her age just then. She wasn’t young, she’s been doing this for too long to even attempt to care about what I might be capable of. Even if I did try some thing stupid, the guards would be on me in seconds, and I’ve been here too long, every one would have seen my face. Her face wrinkled as she pursed her lips, patience were neither of our virtues it seemed.
“Three days of meals and eight tokens,” I turned and watched more guards walk by.
She didn’t even bat an eyelash. I cut my losses and ducked back into the walk way heading towards more shops on the other side of town.
A mismatched group of people stood around another. “I don’t know if this is worth our time,” A strong, obviously trail worn, traveller was saying.
“Come on!” the one in the middle pleaded, “It’s a whole five tokens, for each of you!” I stopped dead in my tracks. “I promise, when you find him, five water tokens!”
Score. “I’ll help,” I said from behind the party.
The one looking for help squealed for joy, “the more the merrier! And the easier it will be! Come on, come on!”
The burly traveller regarded me apprehensively. Maybe I was in over my head, but I needed the tokens, and there was no going back now.